The day started with a fast walk to O-Kun-De-Kun Falls. It's only 1.5 miles from a highway, and the trail has been improved and hardened, so it's a very popular short hike destination for many people. Fortunately, this popularity hasn't ruined it.
This is the most water I've seen going over it (4th time there), but you can still walk out on the rocks beside and below the falls.
There is a huge suspension bridge over the Baltimore River just below the falls. I think this is one of the first big bridges that was built for the NCT. So we crossed the river dry.
The problem was that it rained in the night. An awful lot of the trail miles today were in wetland with tall grasses, ferns, and sedges. We were soaked. And I mean soaked.
When we got to the Middle Branch of the Ontanogan, I was really glad to see another big bridge. I had every expectation there would be since there was no trail alert posted. Nevertheless, I knew the one that was there when I had hiked here before had failed, and I didn't know what it had been replaced with. Answer- a really huge suspension bridge! We wouldn't have gotten across that without being even wetter, and filthier.
It rained off and on all day, so the vegetation never dried. We were so cold and wet and filthy when we finished that we are now at a motel. I know... wimpy. But here we are, and I'm not especially sad about it. There are only a few mosquitoes in the room.
Miles today: 9.7 miles. Total miles so far: 4760.4.
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3 comments:
Nothing wrong with being warm and dry!
Wish I was there.
Charlee: "We also prefer warm and dry! The warmer and drier the better!"
After a day like that I think I would opt for a motel room and a nice hot shower.
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